By TINA TIMOTHY

Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) Nigeria has condemned the ban on the operating hours of tricycle and motorcycle operators in Aba and Umuahia by the Alex Otti-led government.

FENRAD, in a statement on Thursday, June 27, 2024, signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, described the move as an old tactic by previous governments, not capable of curbing crime in the state.

The statement reads: ”Following a release from the Abia State Government dated June 25, as signed by its Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development, FENRAD, a pro-democracy and environmental rights advocacy group based in Abia State has called on the Alex Otti-led government to think through its move to limit the operating hours of tricycle and motorcycle operators in the state, as contained in the said statement.

“FENRAD recalls that sometime in 2006 or thereabouts, the Abia State Government placed a state-wide ban on the operation of motorcyclists (inaga) up to certain hours of the day, as a measure to counter and contain street crimes in the state then. However, with the elections close, the same state government lifted the ban, a policy unilaterally pronounced by the former governor of the state who was on a campaign trail at the Enyimba stadium in Aba. Since that time, successive governments have had to adopt and relax the same measure, albeit, with no reasonable purpose other than to canvass, woo and win drivers’ political support.

“This is why it is shocking that the popular government of Governor Alex Otti is today resorting to the same measure 18 years after or so it was first adopted as an internal security enforcement measure.”

The group further noted that the removal of petrol subsidy last year led to more Abians resorting to using tricycles and motorcycles as alternatives to driving their cars and others live in areas that can only be accessed by these means of transportation, adding that “a policy like this, without a transportation palliative from the state, will disconnect many, especially those whose businesses or places of work close in the evening.”

“It is relevant to, at this point, draw the attention of the state government to the real issue contextually. With the removal of subsidy on petrol, many Abians, unable to fuel their cars daily, resorted to the use of tricycle and motorcycle, as alternatives. Others live in areas only accessible by tricycle. The meaning is that the number of tricycle and motorcycle users in the Abia transport chain grew exponentially in the last one year, so a policy like this, without a transportation palliative from the state, will disconnect many, especially those whose businesses or places of work close in the evening,” FENRAD stated.

While commending Abia State government for its move to bring nightlife back to Aba and Umuahia by installing streetlights and building roads and other infrastructure, FENRAD, however described as impractical and counterproductive, its move “to limit operating hours of tricyclists and motorcyclists as a security measure, at a time when the state is beginning to attract socialites, showbiz players, and hospitality investors.”

The statement continues: ”To the Foundation, another thing which makes this measure impractical at a time like this is its inconsistency with the state government’s avowed goal of improving internally generated revenue by bringing nightlife back to Aba and Umuahia, the two cities where this measure is to be enforced. While the state government began well by installing streetlights and building roads and other critical social infrastructure necessary to bring back nightlife to the two cities, a move the Foundation lauded as salutary, it would be counterproductive for the same government to limit operating hours of tricyclists and motorcyclists as a security measure, at a time when the state is beginning to attract socialites, showbiz players, and hospitality investors following improved power supply being witnessed in some parts of Aba.”

FENRAD also urged the government to use security briefs and reports in mapping of the flashpoints of street crimes in the state, install surveillance gadgets, CCTV and street cameras at strategic locations in the two cities, ensure that all vehicles are registered with the state ministry of transport, among others.

Continuing, FENRAD said: “It cannot be wished away as a fact that street crime is on the increase these days, on the streets of Aba and Umuahia, and that these sometimes involve the use of tricycles. While this presents us a serious concern, FENRAD believes that the same old measure of banning tricycle and motorcycle operation does not hold the answer to the present security lapse being witnessed in the state. The Foundation is aware that security briefs and reports are provided to the governor as the ‘chief security officer’ of the state daily and so calls for mapping of the flashpoints of street crimes, the so-called no-go areas in the state, and ensuring accelerated security provision therein.

“Again, the need to install surveillance gadgets, CCTV and street cameras at strategic locations in the two cities have been stated in previous releases of the Foundation. This remains a vital security measure as of yet.

“Interestingly, there are some positive outcomes harvested in security provision since the government of Dr. Alex Otti assumed office. The Lokpanta axis, which used to be travellers’ nightmare hitherto, for example, was brought under control when the governor launched Operation Crush. That feat was not recorded by banning movement of vehicles around the Lokpanta coordinates, but rather by strategic and well-tailored intervention. The Foundation believes that street crimes like cultism and mugging could also be eradicated with effective strategy.

“Working with the tricycle and motorcycle unions is germane. To enhance easy identification and spotlighting of crime, all unions should ensure that all vehicles within their domain are registered while the state ministry of transport ensures a seamless data capturing and registration of these vehicles, including delimiting areas of operation among unions to avoid encroachment. Any unregistered vehicle should be made to face the law.”

Rather than reduce crime, “a ban like this may be worsening hardships, with family finances shrinking and purchasing power declining daily,” FENRAD said while urging the Abia state government to “rethink this latest policy, consult more stakeholders, so as to enable it to come up with concrete package”, “continue its streetlight project, accelerate road infrastructure provision, and address the problem of unemployment” and raising the security bar.

“Again, a ban like this may be worsening hardships, with family finances shrinking and purchasing power declining daily. Many of the evening motorists are government workers who engage in part-time tricycle business to supplement their income. It Is a no-brainer that minimum wage in Nigeria has fallen low leaving workers with no choice than to explore any opportunity to feed and survive.

“The Foundation calls on the state government to rethink this latest policy, consult more stakeholders, so as to enable it to come up with concrete package. It is on that note that the Foundation urges the Abia State Government to continue its streetlight project, accelerate road infrastructure provision, and address the problem of unemployment (currently at 50%) in order to contain and curtail street crime and cultism.

“Limiting operating hours, while not entirely bad, may not end pickpocketing, hooliganism and even broad daylight robbery. What is required is raising the security bar. Whatever was done in Lokpa can also be achieved in the entire Abia security landscape,” FENRAD added.